Payment Card Dynamically Receiving Power from External Source

ABSTRACT

A payment card with a display and/or dynamic magnetic stripe that operates using power received from an electro-magnetic/RF signal, without the need for incorporating a battery within the payment card. In one example, a payment card includes a receiver for receiving an external electro-magnetic signal and converting it to an electrical signal for powering the payment card; a CPU coupled with the electrical signal of the receiver; a display (i.e., a persistent display) for displaying data, wherein the display receives power based on the electrical signal from the receiver; and a dynamic magnetic stripe storing magnetically readable data, wherein the dynamic magnetic stripe receives power based on the electrical signal from the receiver. Responsive to the electro-magnetic signal received by the payment card, the data displayed on the display and stored in the dynamic magnetic stripe is changed. Methods relating to a payment card are also disclosed.

FIELD

This invention relates, in general, to payment cards such as but notlimited to credit cards and debit cards.

BACKGROUND

Payment cards, such as credit cards and debit cards, have been createdthat include a small battery on each card to provide enhancedfunctionality for users and card holders. A trend in the payment cardfield has included the addition or integration of a long-life batteryinto a payment card.

For instance, payment cards have been developed which include displaysthat display information to a user or cardholder, wherein the displaydraws its power from the battery included in the payment card.Similarly, payment cards have been developed which utilize batteries tosupply power to a dynamic magnetic stripe, wherein dynamic data can bemagnetically written to the magnetic stripe on a card so as to provideenhanced levels of fraud protection. Such dynamic magnetic stripemechanisms on a conventional payment card are generally powered by abattery located within the payment card.

However, as recognized by the present inventors, the inclusion of abattery into a payment card can create design complexities and alsogenerally increases the cost of manufacturing the payment card.Moreover, a payment card having a battery should be disposed of properlyas with any product that contains a battery.

SUMMARY

According to one broad aspect of one embodiment of the presentinvention, disclosed herein is a payment card that in one exampleincludes a receiver for receiving an external electro-magnetic signal,the receiver converting the electro-magnetic signal to an electricalsignal for powering the payment card; a CPU coupled with the electricalsignal of the receiver, the CPU generating one or more data signals; adisplay (i.e., a persistent display) for displaying data, the displayreceiving at least one of the one or more data signals from the CPU,wherein the display receives power based on the electrical signal fromthe receiver, and responsive to the electro-magnetic signal received bythe payment card, the CPU changes the data displayed on the display. Inthis manner, the payment card can be provided with a display without theneed for incorporating a battery within the payment card.

In another embodiment, the payment card may also include a dynamicmagnetic stripe storing magnetically readable data, the dynamic magneticstripe receiving at least one of the one or more data signals from theCPU, wherein the dynamic magnetic stripe receives power based on theelectrical signal from the receiver, and responsive to theelectro-magnetic signal received by the payment card, the CPU changesthe magnetically readable data stored by the dynamic magnetic stripe.

In another example, the payment card may also include one or more energystorage elements for storing energy received from the electro-magneticsignal, the one or more storage elements coupled with the voltageregulator. One or more level shifting circuits may be provided and canbe coupled with the one or more outputs of the voltage regulator, theone or more level shifting circuits converting a voltage at a firstvoltage level from the voltage regulator to a second voltage at a secondvoltage level, the second voltage adapted to be coupled with thedisplay.

According to another broad aspect of another embodiment of the presentinvention, disclosed herein is a payment card that in another exampleincludes a receiver for receiving an electro-magnetic signal, thereceiver converting the electro-magnetic signal to an electrical signalfor powering the payment card; a voltage regulator coupled with thereceiver, the voltage regulator receiving the electrical signal andproviding one or more regulated voltage signals; a CPU receiving atleast one of the one or more regulated voltage signals, the CPUgenerating one or more data signals; and a dynamic magnetic stripestoring magnetically readable data, the dynamic magnetic stripereceiving at least one of the one or more regulated voltage signals, thedynamic magnetic stripe receiving at least one of the one or more datasignals, wherein based in part on the electro-magnetic signal receivedby the payment card, the CPU changes one or more portions of themagnetically readable data contained in the dynamic magnetic stripe. Inthis manner, the payment card can have the benefits of a dynamicmagnetic stripe without the need for a battery in the payment card.

In another embodiment, the payment card may also include one or moreenergy storage elements for storing energy received from theelectro-magnetic signal, the one or more storage elements coupled withthe voltage regulator. One or more level shifting circuits may beprovided and can be coupled with the one or more outputs of the voltageregulator, the one or more level shifting circuits converting a voltageat a first voltage level from the voltage regulator to a second voltageat a second voltage level, the second voltage adapted to be coupled withthe display.

If desired, the payment card may be provided with a display (such as apersistent display) for displaying data, the display receiving at leastone of the one or more regulated voltage signals, the display receivingat least one of the one or more data signals, wherein based in part onthe electro-magnetic signal received by the payment card, the CPUchanges the data displayed by the display.

According to another broad aspect of another embodiment of the presentinvention, disclosed herein is a method for controlling a payment card.In one example, the method may include the operations of providing adisplay on the payment card; providing a receiver on the payment card,the receiver adapted to receive an electro-magnetic signal and adaptedto convert the electro-magnetic signal into electrical power; providingfor applying the electrical power to the display; and providing forchanging the contents of the display responsive to the electrical powerapplied to the display.

The method may also include providing a dynamic magnetic stripe on thepayment card; and providing for changing the contents of the dynamicmagnetic stripe responsive to the electrical power applied to thedisplay.

The method may also include providing the payment card with one or moreenergy storage elements for storing energy received from theelectro-magnetic signal.

In one example, the operation of changing the contents of the displaymay include writing new data to the display, and the operation ofchanging the contents of the dynamic magnetic stripe may includeincludes writing new data to the dynamic magnetic stripe.

The method may also include providing a voltage regulator coupled withthe receiver, the voltage regulator providing one or more regulatedoutput voltages; and coupling the one or more regulated output voltageswith the display. The method may also include providing one or morelevel shifting circuits coupled with the one or more regulated outputvoltages of the voltage regulator, the one or more level shiftingcircuits converting a voltage at a first voltage level from the voltageregulator to a second voltage at a second voltage level, the secondvoltage adapted to be coupled with the display.

According to another broad aspect of another embodiment of the presentinvention, disclosed herein is a method for operating a payment card. Inone example, the method may include receiving an electro-magneticsignal; converting said electro-magnetic signal to an electrical signal;regulating the electrical signal to form one or more regulated voltagesignals; applying at least one of the one or more regulated voltagesignals to a CPU; applying at least one of the one or more regulatedvoltage signals to a display; and writing data to the display.

The method may also include applying at least one of the one or moreregulated voltage signals to a dynamic magnetic stripe; and storingmagnetically readable data on the dynamic magnetic stripe. Energyreceived from the electro-magnetic signal may be stored.

According to another broad aspect of another embodiment of the presentinvention, disclosed herein is a method for operating a payment card. Inone example, the method may include receiving an electro-magneticsignal; converting said electro-magnetic signal to an electrical signal;regulating the electrical signal to form one or more regulated voltagesignals; applying at least one of the one or more regulated voltagesignals to a CPU; applying at least one of the one or more regulatedvoltage signals to a dynamic magnetic stripe; and storing magneticallyreadable data on the dynamic magnetic stripe.

According to another broad aspect of another embodiment of the presentinvention, disclosed herein is a payment card. In one example, thepayment card may include means for receiving an externalelectro-magnetic signal; means for converting said electro-magneticsignal to one or more electrical signals for powering the payment card;means for generating one or more data signals, said means for generatingcoupled with the one or more electrical signals; and means fordisplaying data, the means for displaying coupled with the one or moreelectrical signals.

In another example, the payment card may also include means for storingmagnetically readable data, the means for storing coupled with the oneor more electrical signals. The payment card may also include means forstoring energy, said means for storing coupled with the one or moreelectrical signals.

According to another broad aspect of another embodiment of the presentinvention, disclosed herein is a payment card that may include means forreceiving an external electro-magnetic signal; means for converting saidelectro-magnetic signal to one or more electrical signals for poweringthe payment card; means for generating one or more data signals, saidmeans for generating coupled with the one or more electrical signals;and means for storing magnetically readable data, the means for storingcoupled with the one or more electrical signals. The payment card mayalso include means for displaying data, the means for displaying coupledwith the one or more electrical signals, and means for storing energy,said means for storing coupled with the one or more electrical signals.

The features, utilities and advantages of the various embodiments of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of embodiments of the invention as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of one example of a payment card, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a payment card, such as the payment card of FIG. 1,within an electro-magnetic (EM) field generated by a card reader device,in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a payment card having a persistentdisplay portion, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a payment card having a dynamicmagnetic stripe portion in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of operations for controlling a display ona payment card using power from an external source, in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates another example of operations for controlling adisplay on a payment card using power from an external source, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of operations for controlling a dynamicmagnetic stripe on a payment card using power from an external source,in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example of operations for controlling adynamic magnetic stripe on a payment card using power from an externalsource, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a payment card thatdynamically receives power from an external source (i.e., without theuse of a battery) while providing card functionality such as apersistent display and/or a dynamic magnetic stripe. In one example, apayment card is provided with a persistent display for displaying data,and/or a dynamic magnetic stripe; and the payment card dynamicallyreceives power from an external source, such as an electro-magneticfield, and utilizes that power to effect a state change in the databeing displayed by the display, and/or utilizes that power to effect astate change in the data contained within the dynamic magnetic stripe ofthe payment card. In this manner, security features such as a displayand/or a dynamic magnetic stripe can be incorporated into a payment cardwithout the need for a battery within the payment card. Variousembodiments of the present invention are described herein.

Referring to FIG. 1, an example of a payment card 10 is shown accordingto one embodiment of the present invention. The payment card 10 in theexample of FIG. 1 includes a receiver 12, a display 14 for displayingdata or information, and a dynamic magnetic stripe 16 for storingmagnetically readable data. The payment card 10 may also include a CPU18 (central processing unit), energy storage elements 20, a voltageregulator 22, and one or more level shifters 24.

The receiver 12 is provided for receiving an external electro-magneticsignal 26 (FIG. 2) and for converting said electro-magnetic signal 26 toelectrical power (i.e., an electrical signal 28) for powering thepayment card 10. A CPU 18 is provided and may be coupled (directly orindirectly) with the electrical signal 28 of the receiver 12. The CPU 18may generate one or more data signals 30, a portion of the data signals30 may be coupled with the display 14, and another (or the same) portionof the data signals 30 may be coupled with the dynamic magnetic stripe16. For example, the display 14 may receive power (directly orindirectly) based on the electrical signal 28 from the receiver 12, andthe dynamic magnetic stripe 16 may receive power (directly orindirectly) based on the electrical signal 28 from the receiver 12.Responsive to the electro-magnetic signal 26 received by the paymentcard 10, the data displayed on the display 14 can be changed, and themagnetically readable data stored by the dynamic magnetic stripe 16 canbe changed, if desired.

As used herein, the term “payment card” includes but is not limited to,for example, credit cards, debit cards, bank cards, store-issued cards,prepaid cards, contactless cards, gift cards, a card combining one ormore of these functions, or any conventional payment card that acustomer can use in lieu of a cash payment, and these terms are usedinterchangeably herein.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a payment card10 may be provided with a display 14; a payment card 10 may be providedwith a dynamic magnetic stripe 16; or a payment card 10 may be providedwith both a display 14 and a dynamic magnetic stripe 16, depending uponthe particular implementation.

In one example, the output 28 of the contactless receiver 12 is avoltage signal, such as a DC voltage, which may include but is notlimited to a low voltage such as approximately 1.25 volts.

In one example, a voltage regulator 22 may be provided within thepayment card 10, wherein the voltage regulator 22 is coupled with theoutput 28 of the contactless receiver 12. The voltage regulator 22 mayprovide a stable or regulated output voltage 32 for use by othercomponents within the payment card 10. For instance, the voltageregulator 22 may include circuit elements such as diodes, resistors, orcapacitors for stabilizing the output signal 28 received from thecontactless receiver 12 and providing a regulating voltage 32 to theother components within the payment card 10. The voltage regulator 22may include any conventional circuits or components for providing aregulated voltage 32 or for stabilizing the voltage 32 on the output onthe voltage regulator 22.

Energy storage elements or circuits 20 may be provided within thepayment card 10, in one example. The energy storage elements 20 may becoupled with the output 28 of the contactless receiver 12, in oneexample, in order to store energy received from the contactless receiver12 and provide that energy to the input of the voltage regulator 22, asshown in FIG. 1. Alternatively or additionally, storage elements 20 maybe placed on the output 32 of the voltage regulator 22 so as to storeenergy and provide that energy (voltage/current) to the componentsdownstream of the voltage regulator 22 within the payment card 10. Theenergy storage elements 20 may include but are not limited tocapacitors, inductors, or other conventional energy storage elements orconventional circuits providing energy storage.

In one example, one or more level shifters, voltage conversion circuits,or voltage translator circuits 24 may be provided in order to provide orcreate the voltage levels 34 utilized by the display 14 or by thedynamic magnetic stripe 16.

For instance, if the voltage output 32 from the voltage regulator 22 is,as an example only, approximately 3.5 volts and the display 14 requiresa voltage of approximately 40 volts (as an example only) in order towrite new data to the display 14, then a level shifter/voltagetranslator 24 may be provided to convert the 3.5 volts signal to a 40volt signal, in one example.

Alternatively, a voltage regulator 22 may be provided with multipleoutput voltage signals 32, each output voltage signal being at adifferent voltage level in order to supply the voltages for the CPU 18,display 14, and/or dynamic magnetic stripe 16 or other components.

The one or more level shifters/voltage translators 24 may utilize anyconventional circuit or mechanism for shifting a voltage signal,depending upon the particular implementation.

Generally, the contactless receiver 12 receives the electro-magnetic(EM)/radio frequency (RF) signal 26 from the card reader device 40 (FIG.2) and that electro-magnetic signal 26 is converted into electricalenergy/power (i.e., voltages and currents) that can be utilized by thecircuit components of the payment card 10. The CPU 18 is then activatedbased on the power received from the external electro-magnetic field 26,and the CPU 18 can then change the state of the display 14 bycontrollably writing data (i.e., new data values) to the display 14.Likewise the CPU 18 can change the state of the dynamic magnetic stripe16 by writing data (i.e., new data) to the dynamic magnetic stripe 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, the CPU 18 is powered based on the energy receivedfrom the external source, the electro-magnetic field 26. The CPU 18 mayhave one or more outputs 29,30, for instance, one or more outputs 29,30coupled to control the display 14 (these signals may be data signals 30,control signals 29, or both), and or one or more outputs 29,30 tocontrol the dynamic magnetic stripe 16 (these signals may be datasignals 30, control signals 29, or both). The CPU 18 may also includeother outputs which can be utilized to activate or de-activate othercircuit elements within the payment card, such as to selectively enableor selectively disable circuit sections of the payment card 10 in orderto conserve energy or efficiently utilize energy.

The CPU 18 may include, but is not limited to, any logic circuit,integrated circuit, programmable logic device, microprocessor,microcontroller, or other conventional processing and may include othercomponents which are conventionally associated with a CPU, such ason-board or external memory, interface circuits, timing circuits, clockcircuits, or other conventional circuits, depending upon the particularimplementation. If desired, the CPU 18 may be compliant with thepublicly available EMVCo Specification “EMV Card PersonalizationSpecification” June 2003 v1.0, available athttp://www.emvco.com/specifications.asp, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The display 14 may include, but is not limited to, a persistent displaywhich, once written, will display the desired data and will persistentlymaintain the display of that data until the display is re-written orotherwise changed. The display 14 can be, for example, a fixed segmentdisplay, a dot matrix display, a positive or negative reflective displaywhich can be read by the user or cardholder using ambient light, aliquid crystal display, or other conventional display.

As shown in FIG. 3, the display 14 may include, for example, a set offixed segment characters 42 that may be positioned on the front side 44of the card, or in other embodiments can be positioned on the backside46 of the card. In another embodiment, portions of the display 14 may bepositioned on the front side 44 of the payment card 10 and otherportions of the display 14 may be positioned on the rear surface 46 ofthe payment card 10.

In one embodiment, a payment card 10 may be provided with a dynamicmagnetic stripe 16 which includes a magnetic stripe 48 that is typicallypositioned along the length of the rear surface 46 of the payment card10, as shown in FIG. 4. The magnetic stripe 16,48 contains payment cardinformation so that when the payment card 10 is physically swipedthrough a magnetic payment device, the data encoded in the magneticstripe 16,48 is read by the magnetic card reader. Through the use of adynamic magnetic stripe 16, one or more portions of the magnetic stripe48 of a payment card 10 can be magnetically altered. In one example, adynamic magnetic stripe 16 includes a magnetic stripe writer or recorder50 which can controllably change (i.e., write) one or more the valuesstored in the magnetic stripe 48 of a payment card 10.

In one example embodiment, the dynamic magnetic stripe 16 can have newdata encoded into the magnetic stripe 48 when the payment card is placedwithin the electro-magnetic field 26 of a contactless card reader device40 (FIG. 2). By changing one or more of the values encoded in themagnetic stripe 48, some embodiments of the present invention can createunique transaction data which can enhance the security of the paymentcard 10.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate examples of various operations that may beperformed by, utilized with, or implemented within a payment card (suchas payment card 10) in accordance with one or more embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 5-6 illustrate examples of operations for changing the state orcontents of a display 14 on a payment card 10 using power received froman external source, such as from an electro-magnetic/RF field 26, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 5illustrates an example of operations where the state or contents of thedisplay 14 are changed while the payment card 10 is within theelectro-magnetic/RF field 26, and FIG. 6 illustrates an example ofoperations for changing the state or contents of a display 14 after thepayment card 10 is outside of the electro-magnetic/RF field 26.

Referring to FIG. 5, for purposes of this example, it is assumed thatthe display 14 has been previously written with existing data and iscurrently displaying such existing data, as shown in operation 60(optional); however, one or more operations of FIGS. 5 and 6 can beutilized to initially write data to the display 14 for the first time.

At operation 62, having been placed in the electro-magnetic/RF field, apayment card receives electro-magnetic field energy and powers up (i.e.,the contactless receiver 12 receives EM/RF energy, and the voltageregulator 22 and energy storage elements 20 of the payment card 10 areactivated). At operation 64, the CPU is turned on utilizing the powerreceived from the external electro-magnetic/RF field, for instance, asregulated by the voltage regulator 22. At operation 66, the CPU createsand/or obtains new data for display. The data to be displayed caninclude any type of data that is desired to be displayed, based upon theparticular implementation. At operation 68, power is applied to thedisplay in order to write-enable the display. In other words, operation68 can be utilized to selectively apply power to the display in order tochange the state or contents of the display. At operation 70, the CPUwrites new data to the display, and at operation 72, the displaydisplays the new data, preferably in a persistent manner. At operation74, power is removed from the display, thereby disabling any furtherstate changes to the contents of the display until a time in the futurewhen new data is to be written to the display. The payment card may beremoved out of the electro-magnetic/RF field, and at operation 76 theCPU may power down.

In FIG. 6, if desired, the new data may be written to the display afterthe payment card has been removed out of the range of theelectro-magnetic/RF field, in one example. As shown in FIG. 6, after thepayment card has been removed out of the electro-magnetic field, atoperation 66 the CPU creates or obtains new data for the display, and atoperation 68, power from the energy storage elements of the payment cardis used and/or applied to write-enable the display. At operation 70, theCPU, operating under power obtained from the energy storage elements inthis example, writes the new data to the display, and at operation 72,the display persistently displays the new data, in one example.

While operation 66 is shown as occurring after the payment card has beenremoved from electro-magnetic field, in another example operation 66occurs before the payment card has been removed out of theelectro-magnetic field, and operation 68 occurs after the payment cardhas been removed out of the electro-magnetic field.

FIGS. 7-8 show various embodiments of operations for controlling adynamic magnetic stripe on a payment card (such as payment card 10)using power from an external source, such as from an electro-magneticfield, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. InFIG. 7, for purposes of this example, it is assumed that the dynamicmagnetic stripe contains existing data and that operations 82-90 can beutilized to change the values stored or encoded in the magnetic stripeof the payment card. It is understood that operations 82-90 orvariations thereof may be utilized to initially write one or moreportions of the data contained in the magnetic stripe, if desired.

When the payment card is placed in the electro-magnetic/RF field, atoperation 82, the payment card receives the electro-magnetic field andderives power therefrom (i.e., the voltage regulator 22 and/or energystorage elements 20 of the payment card 10 are powered from the EM field26). At operation 84, the CPU turns on utilizing the power provided bythe electro-magnetic/RF field (i.e., as converted by the contactlessreceiver 12 and voltage regulator 22, in one example). At operation 86,the CPU creates or obtains new data that is to be written to the dynamicportion of the magnetic stripe, which may include one or more datavalues encoded in the magnetic stripe.

At operation 88, power is applied to the dynamic magnetic stripe inorder to enable the writing of new data to the dynamic magnetic stripe.At operation 90, the CPU writes new data to the dynamic magnetic stripe.Operation 90 records new data on one or more portions of the magneticstripe, thereby changing the state of the dynamic magnetic stripe.

At operation 92, power is removed from the dynamic magnetic stripe(i.e., thereby disabling the write operation), and once the payment cardis out of the range of the electro-magnetic/RF field, at operation 94,the CPU powers down.

In FIG. 8, the new data is written to the dynamic magnetic stripe afterthe payment card is out of the electro-magnetic field. In one example,at operation 86, the CPU creates or obtains new data to write to thedynamic magnetic stripe (although in other embodiments, this operationmay occur while the payment card is within the electro-magnetic/RFfield). At operation 88, power from the energy storage elements isutilized and applied to the dynamic magnetic stripe in order to writethe new data thereto. At operation 90, the CPU writes the new data tothe dynamic magnetic stripe, and the new data is recorded on one or moreportions of the magnetic stripe of the payment card. Hence, operations88-90 may occur after the payment card is out of the range of theelectro-magnetic/RF field, in this example.

Accordingly, it can be seen that embodiments of the present inventionmay be configured to provide a payment card 10 having a display 14and/or a dynamic magnetic stripe 16, wherein the payment card 10 doesnot utilize a battery therein.

In another example embodiment, a payment card 10 may include means forreceiving (which may be included in receiver 12) an externalelectro-magnetic signal 26, such means 12 can include any conventionalcircuit or circuit element for receiving a EM signal, such as aninductor, antenna, capacitor, resistors, diodes, or other conventionalcircuit element or combination thereof. A payment card 10 may includemeans for converting (which may be included in receiver 12 or regulator22) said electro-magnetic signal 26 to one or more electrical signalsfor powering the payment card, and such means may include a voltageregulator (of any conventional type), a level shifter, a voltagetranslator, a electrical signal converter, or other conventionalcircuit.

A payment card 10 may also include means for generating 18 one or moredata signals, such as a CPU, logic, PLD (programmable logic device), anintegrated circuit, microprocessor, microcontroller, or otherconventional processor and may include other components which areconventionally associated with a CPU, such as on-board or externalmemory, interface circuits, timing circuits, clock circuits, or otherconventional circuits, depending upon the particular implementation.

A payment card 10 may also include means for displaying 14 data, such asdisplay, a fixed segment display, a dot matrix display, a positive ornegative reflective display which can be read by the user or cardholderusing ambient light, a liquid crystal display, or other conventionaldisplay.

A payment card 10 may also include means for storing 16 magneticallyreadable data, such as a dynamic magnetic stripe, a writable magneticstripe, or any conventional magnetic storage mechanism.

A payment card 10 may also include means for storing 20 energy, saidmeans may be coupled with the one or more electrical signals. Means forstoring energy may include one or more electrical circuit elements, suchas inductors, capacitors, or any conventional energy storage elements.

Embodiments of the invention can be implemented via appropriate softwareor computer program code instructions in combination with appropriateinstruction execution platforms, processor(s), hardware or the like.These instructions may be in the form of a computer program product thatcan cause a CPU to control operation of a card according to anembodiment of the invention. The combination of hardware and software toperform the functions described can form the means to carry out theprocesses and/or subprocesses of embodiments of the invention. In thisregard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent amodule, segment, action, or portion of code, which comprises one or moreexecutable instructions or actions for implementing the specifiedlogical function(s). Furthermore, an embodiment of the invention maytake the form of a hardware embodiment, a software embodiment (includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects.

Any suitable computer usable or computer readable medium may be used,taking into account that computer program code to operate a cardaccording to embodiments of the invention may reside at various placesduring assembly of the card, in addition to on a card itself. Thecomputer usable or computer readable medium may be, for example but notlimited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared,or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablemedium would include the following: an electrical connection having oneor more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a randomaccess memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmableread-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, atransmission media such as those supporting the Internet or an intranet,or a magnetic storage device. Note that the computer usable or computerreadable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium uponwhich the program is printed, as the program can be electronicallycaptured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or othermedium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitablemanner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

In the context of this document, a computer usable or computer readablemedium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate,propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, platform, apparatus, or device. Thecomputer usable medium may include a propagated data signal with thecomputer-usable program code embodied therewith, either in baseband oras part of a carrier wave. The computer usable program code may betransmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited tothe Internet, wireline, optical fiber cable, radio frequency (RF) orother means.

Computer program code for carrying out embodiments of the presentinvention may be written in an object oriented, scripted or unscriptedprogramming language such as Java, Perl, Smalltalk, C++ or the like.However, the computer program code for carrying out embodiments of thepresent invention may also be written in conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. It should also be noted that functions andcombination of functions described herein can be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based systems or operators which perform the specifiedfunctions or acts.

While the methods disclosed herein have been described and shown withreference to particular operations performed in a particular order, itwill be understood that these operations may be combined, sub-divided,or re-ordered to form equivalent methods without departing from theteachings of the present invention. Accordingly, unless specificallyindicated herein, the order and grouping of the operations are not alimitation of the present invention.

It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to“one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “one example” or “an example”means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiment may be included, if desired, in atleast one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, it should beappreciated that two or more references to “an embodiment” or “oneembodiment” or “an alternative embodiment” or “one example” or “anexample” in various portions of this specification are not necessarilyall referring to the same embodiment.

It should be appreciated that in the foregoing description of exemplaryembodiments of the invention, various features of the invention aresometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, ordescription thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure andaiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventiveaspects. Inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a singleforegoing disclosed embodiment, and each embodiment described herein maycontain more than one inventive feature.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilledin the art that various other changes in the form and details may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1.-40. (canceled)
 41. A payment card comprising: a receiver to receivean external electro-magnetic signal, said receiver operable to convertsaid electro-magnetic signal to an electrical signal for powering thepayment card; a CPU coupled with the electrical signal of the receiver,the CPU operable to generate one or more data signals; and a display toreceive at least one of the one or more data signals from the CPU,wherein the display is operable to display security data and to receivepower based on the electrical signal from the receiver, wherein,responsive to the electro-magnetic signal received by the payment card,the CPU changes the security data displayed on the display.
 42. Thepayment card of claim 41, wherein the payment card does not include abattery.
 43. The payment card of claim 41, wherein the security datadisplayed on the display changes after the payment card is used in atransaction.
 44. The payment card of claim 41, wherein the display is apersistent display that, once written, is operable to display thesecurity data persistently and maintain the display of the security datauntil the persistent display is re-written.
 45. The payment card ofclaim 44, wherein the display is re-written after the payment card hasbeen moved outside of an electro-magnetic field that produced theelectro-magnetic signal.
 46. The payment card of claim 41, wherein theCPU is operable to change the security data displayed on the displayafter the payment card has been moved outside of an electro-magneticfield that produced the electro-magnetic signal.
 47. The payment card ofclaim 41, further comprising: a dynamic magnetic stripe to storemagnetically readable data, the dynamic magnetic stripe operable toreceive at least one of the one or more data signals, wherein based inpart on the electro-magnetic signal received by the payment card, theCPU is operable to change one or more portions of the magneticallyreadable data contained in the dynamic magnetic stripe.
 48. The paymentcard of claim 47, further comprising: a voltage regulator coupled withthe receiver; one or more level shifting circuits coupled with thevoltage regulator, the one or more level shifting circuits operable toconvert a voltage at a first voltage level from the voltage regulator toa second voltage at a second voltage level, the second voltage adaptedto be coupled with the dynamic magnetic stripe.
 49. The payment card ofclaim 47, wherein the CPU is operable to change the magneticallyreadable data stored by the dynamic magnetic stripe after the paymentcard has been moved outside of an electro-magnetic field that producedthe electro-magnetic signal.
 50. A payment card comprising: a receiverto receive an external electro-magnetic signal, said receiver operableto convert said electro-magnetic signal to an electrical signal forpowering the payment card; a CPU coupled with the electrical signal ofthe receiver, the CPU operable to generate one or more data signals; anda dynamic magnetic stripe to store magnetically readable data, thedynamic magnetic stripe operable to receive at least one of the one ormore data signals from the CPU including unique transaction data,wherein the dynamic magnetic stripe is further operable to receive powerbased on the electrical signal from the receiver, wherein, responsive tothe electro-magnetic signal received by the payment card, the CPUchanges the unique transaction data stored on the dynamic magneticstripe.
 51. The payment card of claim 50, wherein the payment card doesnot include a battery.
 52. The payment card of claim 50, wherein theunique transaction data is generated after the payment card is used in atransaction.
 53. The payment card of claim 50, wherein the uniquetransaction data is generated after the payment card has been movedoutside of an electro-magnetic field that produced the electro-magneticsignal.
 54. The payment card of claim 50, further comprising: a displayto receive at least one of the one or more data signals from the CPU,wherein the display is operable to display security data.
 55. Thepayment card of claim 50, further comprising: a voltage regulatorcoupled with the receiver; one or more level shifting circuits coupledwith the voltage regulator, the one or more level shifting circuitsoperable to convert a voltage at a first voltage level from the voltageregulator to a second voltage at a second voltage level, the secondvoltage adapted to be coupled with the dynamic magnetic stripe.
 56. Thepayment card of claim 55, wherein the CPU is operable to change themagnetically readable data stored by the dynamic magnetic stripe afterthe payment card has been moved outside of an electro-magnetic fieldthat produced the electro-magnetic signal.
 57. A payment cardcomprising: a receiver to receive an external electro-magnetic signal,said receiver operable to convert said electro-magnetic signal to anelectrical signal for powering the payment card; one or more energystorage elements, coupled with the receiver, to store energy receivedfrom the electro-magnetic signal; a CPU coupled with the electricalsignal of the receiver, the CPU operable to generate one or more datasignals; a display to receive at least one of the one or more datasignals from the CPU and display data based on the one or more datasignals, wherein, the CPU changes the data displayed on the display inresponse to the electro-magnetic signal received by the payment card.58. The payment card of claim 57, wherein the one or more energy storageelements includes an inductor.
 59. The payment card of claim 57, whereinthe one or more energy storage elements includes a capacitor.
 60. Thepayment card of claim 57, wherein the payment card does not include abattery.
 61. The payment card of claim 57, wherein the display is apersistent display that, once written, is operable to display thesecurity data persistently and maintain the display of the security datauntil the persistent display is re-written.
 62. A payment cardcomprising: a receiver to receive an external electro-magnetic signal,said receiver operable to convert said electro-magnetic signal to anelectrical signal for powering the payment card; one or more energystorage elements, coupled with the receiver, to store energy receivedfrom the electro-magnetic signal; a CPU coupled with the electricalsignal of the receiver, the CPU operable to generate one or more datasignals; and a dynamic magnetic stripe to store magnetically readabledata, the dynamic magnetic stripe operable to receive at least one ofthe one or more data signals from the CPU, wherein the dynamic magneticstripe is further operable to receive power based on the electricalsignal from the receiver.
 63. The payment card of claim 62, wherein theone or more energy storage elements includes an inductor.
 64. Thepayment card of claim 62, wherein the one or more energy storageelements includes a capacitor.
 65. The payment card of claim 62, whereinthe one or more data signals from the CPU includes unique transactiondata.